1. "Guns don't kill people; people do." Actually, people WITH guns tend to do most of the malicious killing, and commit virtually all of the mass-killings in this country, which seem to occur about once a month or so. Meanwhile, marijuana - something which has never killed anybody - is still illegal in almost all states.
2. "If guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns."
Then, why have any laws at all? Outlaws also speed, steal, take illicit drugs, kidnap, rape, and commit pedophilia; should we as a society simply give up on legislating right and wrong via any sort of criminal code?
3. "Law-abiding citizens with concealed-carry permits can protect others during a mass-shooting."
Except that there is little proof of this ever actually happening. An ex-cop had a gun that morning in Tucson, and decided he couldn't risk hurting others by trying to shoot Jared Loughner. If a veteran of the force thought better of adding to the crossfire, would a bunch of untrained,inexperienced civilians with itchy trigger-fingers fare any better?
4. "Someone who wants to kill will find a way, with or without a gun."
Certainly, but mass-killings without guns are statistically rare, and usually involve a certain amount of training, whether in bomb-making, flying, or swordplay, whereas any idiot these days can buy, load, and fire a gun. Some will even assert that a would-be killer might mow a bunch of people down with an automobile, but worrying about what could happen without concrete data showing that it routinely does occur is foolish; you might as well hand your five-year-old a butcher knife because you're afraid she'll cut herself with scissors.
5. "The right to bear arms is guaranteed by the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution."
A "well-regulated militia" is guaranteed that right; there's nothing to stipulate that civilians are constitutionally protected, and supposed defenders of the Second Amendment never seem to be in favor of any proposed regulation on gun-ownership whatsoever. Gotta love selective reading of our founding document; after all, it's worked soooo well with the Bible!
6. "Having guns will protect Americans from foreign invasions."
You've been watching Red Dawn too much. If our own military cannot stave off intruders from other lands with their fancy arsenal, how long do you think you'll be able to hold out with a Glock 9mm and a few hundred rounds? It's yet another highly unlikely hypothetical scenario which desperate ideologues use to scare people; don't buy into their fearmongering.
7. "Gun-ownership is the only thing standing between Americans and their government."
See #6; our government has at its disposal all manner of fighter planes and anti-aircraft tanks and warships and tactical missiles and noxious chemicals and atomic weapons, making any attempt at a reasonable standoff a joke. However, we lose over 11,000 citizens every year to gun-violence at the hands of other Americans - that's more than THREE 9/11s; the difference is that, after the al-qaeda attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, we actually decided that something tangible needed to be done so that it didn't happen again. Mass-shootings? Apparently, not so much.
8. "If guns are banned, how will hunters feed their families while controlling increasing animal populations?"
No reasonable person would advocate for the banning of ALL guns; in fact, there are currently over 300,000,000 firearms in the U.S., making their removal a logistical impossibility. At issue are semiautomatic assault weapons and extended clips; if you need thirty rounds to kill a deer, you are one hell of a terrible shot. Unless you like to mince your venison in the field rather than paying a butcher to process the meat for you, high-powered, multi-shot weapons have no business on a hunt.
9. "What about target-shooting, skeet, or other sporting activities involving guns?"
Again, nobody's coming for your hunting rifles, shotguns, .22s, .38 Specials, or .357 magnums. Settle down, have a beer, and "murder" as many clay pidgeons as you like.
10. "How will I defend my home and family?"
By using guns which won't leave your house bullet-riddled and possibly kill the guy next door in the process. Last time I checked, a .45 could kill an unwanted intruder at close range, too. What's that? You say you may not always be within close range of a potential burgalar? Just how big IS your fucking house, anyway?!?!?
